Rod Thorn has seen countless NBA games. Seen ’em, played in ’em, coached in ’em. So he knows a big one when he sees it.

And Milwaukee was big.

“You know me,” the Nets team president said, “and I never label games as ‘must win.’ But that game in Milwaukee was one we had to have.” Thorn’s logic was valid – and it didn’t involve the “all-important” loss column (be honest, have you ever heard the loss column referred to as something other than “all important”?) But it did involve the “almost as important” win column.

“The Bucks win that game and we’re down four in the loss column,” The Boss said. “And four games is a lot to make up at this time of the season.”

Another reason the 99-95 win over the Bucks was so big? Look who’s in the Meadowlands tonight, the Celtics. And look who the Nets play on the road Friday, the Magic.

And while no loss ever sits well with Thorn, he fears that there are some that could come back to haunt this group, specifically two home losses to Washington and two more to Toronto.

* * *

If the Nets do get back in the playoffs, they are going to have to earn it. Between tonight and Apr. 1, the Nets play nine games against teams with winning records. That’s the most of the teams fighting for the eighth spot.

The Knicks have eight such games, the Bucks and Bulls both have seven. And then there is one other team to consider, the team Thorn rates as the dark horse in the race: Charlotte. Based on winning record, Charlotte – just 1 Â½ games behind the 27-33 Nets at 26-35 — faces the easiest upcoming schedule with just five teams over .500 to Apr. 1.

* * *

Thorn said he is not overly concerned over the Devin Harris asthma situation.

Harris said after last night’s game he has sports-induced asthma which affected him against the Bucks, probably most pronounced than any past attack. He’s been examined, deemed healthy,

“Every now and then he has a problem with it, obviously not to this extent,” Thorn said. “But we’ve seen him with an aspirator before. There may have just been something in the air.”

* * *

Nets announced that two of their pre-season games next fall will be in the Prudential Center. Don’t get worked up, doesn’t necessarily mean that will be home. It’s just one way of helping season ticket holders who will not be required to but exhibition games as part of their packages, which was customary with games played in the Meadowlands. Another game will be played at St. John’s.

* * *

And if you’re waiting to see if the Nets sign any of the waived players, don’t hold you breath. Thorn admits there’s “not a doggone thing” going on. He wished Stromile Swift good luck with the Suns after he got waived by Nets Sunday and signed officially this morning – “That’s a good spot for him,” Thorn said.

* * *

Useless fact of the day: Technically, Adolf Hitler’s real name was Adolf Schickelgruber. His father, Alois, was born out of marriage and was registered with his mother’s last name, Schickelgruber. Alois later used the name “Heidler” – often spelled “Hitler” — when his mother married. William Schirer, in “The Rise and Fall of the Third Reich,” suggests Hitler might not have come to power had he used his real name because none would take “Heil Schickelgruber” seriously.